Fluoride is key for healthy teeth, but you don’t have to depend entirely on your toothpaste to get it. There are many drinks and foods that can help raise your level. If your dentist in San Antonio suggests you get more of this mineral, knowing these items can be valuable as you make day-to-day nutritional decisions. Keep reading to learn some tasty beverages and foods with fluoride that can aid your oral health!
Crab
A favorite seafood option of many, crab has a prominent level of fluoride. Crab legs are an excellent choice and blue crab specifically packs a beneficial amount of the mineral.
Potatoes
Baked potatoes, particularly russet potatoes, have a significant amount of fluoride. Any type of potato prepared in any fashion will have some fluoride, with French fries being on the lower end of the scale. If you are trying to justify having some fries with your burger, however, there you go.
Grapes, Raisins, and Wine
In all their forms, grapes contain fluoride. If you were searching for a reason to have another glass of wine, bingo – just be sure to brush your teeth later due to the acidity and staining potential. Raisins have the most concentrated fluoride and the most sugar, so it’s a give-and-take situation. In general, grapes are great for your health.
Black Tea or Coffee
When you brew black tea with tap water, you’ll get fluoride from two sources. The tea leaves contain the mineral. Similarly, if you brew coffee with tap water, you get a double dose of fluoride.
Raw Fruit
You’ll be happy to know that most raw fruit has fluoride! Look to apples, bananas, peaches, watermelons, avocados –they are indeed fruit, and many others offer a tasty way to help your teeth.
Shrimp
Like crab and some other shellfish varieties, shrimp are an excellent source of fluoride. Considering how many ways shrimp is served, this opens a world of teeth-strengthening possibilities.
Other Potential Items
Just to give each a quick mention, here are some other items that contain fluoride: almond milk, light beer, black bean soup, white rice, oysters, asparagus, and cooked oatmeal, carrots, and spinach.
Why Is Fluoride Intake So Important?
Fluoride is beneficial for teeth because it reduces cavities in adults and children. It is absorbed into your teeth’ enamel. The mineral then goes to work replenishing your teeth’ supply of phosphorous and calcium. This is important because phosphorous and calcium work together to keep your teeth strong. The technical name for this process is “remineralization.” Fluoride also helps stop tooth decay – thereby reducing the risk of developing cavities.
Can You Have Too Much Fluoride?
You actually can. The good news is the risk of overexposure is pretty low in the food items mentioned in this blog post. Children need about 500 micrograms and adults require about 3,000-4,000 micrograms per day.
If you aren’t convinced by now, just ask your dentist about foods with fluoride during your next visit. Getting to enjoy some delicious items and helping your teeth in the process is a pretty excellent deal!
About the Practice
At Jones & Knight Family, Cosmetic, and Implant Dentistry, we can provide a wide array of treatments to your entire family and both early and late hours are available to accommodate your busy schedule. All PPO dental insurance is accepted, and financing is available. Dr. Troy Jones and Dr. George Knight will be happy to talk about fluoride-rich foods during your next dental cleaning and exam, which you can schedule on our website – just pick the San Antonio location that you prefer.